Version History lets you browse, view, and restore previous versions of any note as a new copy. Whether you need to recover accidentally deleted content or review how a note evolved over time, Version History gives you a time-stamped record of every meaningful edit, including changes made by collaborators.

How to Enable

Version History is available on Notability Cloud and is on by default for all eligible subscription tiers. No setup is required.

Requirements:

• Active Notability Cloud subscription (Starter, Plus, Pro, Business Standard, or Business Pro)
• Notability app (iOS or Web)
• An internet connection is required to open the Version History panel

How to Access Version History

On iOS

1. Open the note you want to review and go to the more options menu (...)
2. Select Version History from the menu
3. The Version History panel opens on the right side of the canvas

On Web

1. Open the note you want to review
2. Click the "..." button on the right end of the top toolbar
3. Select Version History
4. The Version History panel opens on the right side of the canvas

How It Works

Browsing Versions

• The Version History panel lists all available versions in reverse chronological order
• Each version displays a timestamp (shown in your local time) and a list of collaborators who contributed edits to that version
• The version you are currently viewing is shown in bold
• Click or tap any version to preview it, and the canvas updates instantly to show the note at that point in time
• A "Viewing [version title]" toast appears above the canvas while you browse

Viewing a Version

• The canvas is read-only so you cannot make edits while in Version History mode
• You can copy content from any version (text, notes, etc.)
• Audio recordings attached to a version are playable, even if they were deleted from the current version of the note
• On iOS: only the hand, select, and playback tools are available
• On Web: toolbox, record, share, and multiplayer presence indicators are hidden
• Other collaborators in the note will not see you browsing Version History
• The Library remains accessible while Version History is open

Exiting Version History

Version History mode exits automatically when you:

• Navigate to a different note
• Navigate to a different page (Web)
• Close the Version History panel

The note returns to its normal editable state.

Restoring a Version

1. Browse to the version you want to restore
2. Click or tap the Restore button
3. Notability creates a new duplicate note with:
   • The same name, appended with (Restored from [timestamp])
   • The same location in your Library
   • The same permissions as the original note
   • The same version history up to the restored point
4. The restored note opens automatically
5. A banner appears for 8 seconds with two options:
   • Undo — removes the restored note and returns you to the original
   • Return to original — keeps the restored note and opens the original

The original note is never overwritten. Restoring always creates a new note.

Undo window: If the restore was your most recent action, you can also use the standard Undo command within 15 seconds to remove the restored note.

Version History Limits by Plan

The amount of history available depends on your plan. Versions beyond your plan's limit are listed but locked.

Upgrading your plan immediately unlocks the additional history

FAQs

Does Version History track collaborator edits? Yes. Each version displays the names of all users who contributed edits to that version. If you were offline when opening Version History, collaborator names may appear as "Unknown" and will resolve once you reconnect.

Is my original note changed when I restore? No. Restoring always creates a new duplicate note. Your original note remains intact and unchanged.

Can I restore a version of a note that has already been edited by a collaborator? Yes. The restore creates a new note from the version you selected, regardless of who made subsequent edits.

Are audio recordings preserved in Version History? Yes. Audio recordings relevant to a version are playable within Version History, even if they were deleted from the current version of the note.

Why can't I see versions older than 30 days? Version History displays up to 90 days of history regardless of plan, but versions beyond your plan's limit are locked. The maximum restorable window without a plan upgrade is 30 days for most plans (90 days for Pro and Business Pro).

Does Version History work offline? You must be online to open the Version History panel. The feature requires a network connection to retrieve version data.

Can other collaborators see me browsing Version History? No. Your Version History session is private — other users in the note will not see you navigating between versions.

What happens if I close Version History without restoring? Nothing changes. Your note returns to its normal state exactly as you left it.

Can I copy content from an old version without restoring the whole note? Yes. You can select and copy content from any version while in Version History mode, then paste it into your current note manually.

Troubleshooting

Version History option doesn't appear

• Confirm you are on an active Notability Cloud plan (Version History is not available without a cloud subscription)
• Check that you are connected to the internet
• Force-quit and reopen the Notability app, then try again

Versions are missing or the panel is empty

• Version History is only available for notes that have been edited and synced to Notability Cloud. Notes that have never been synced will not have version history.
• If the note was created very recently, there may only be one version available

Restore button is greyed out

• The Restore button is only active when you are viewing a version that is older than the current note state. If you are on the most recent version, Restore will not be available.

Locked versions I expected to access after upgrading are still locked

• Sign out and back into Notability, or force-quit and reopen the app
• Allow a few minutes for the subscription status to sync after upgrading

Collaborator names show as "Unknown"

• This occurs when the app is offline or the user data hasn't loaded. Connect to the internet and re-open the Version History panel to resolve.

Audio from an old version won't play

• Confirm you are connected to the internet
• If the issue persists, contact Notability Support

Updated July 02, 2026 23:54